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“You don’t worry over that.” Desree squeezed Tielle’s hands again. “That’s for me to handle. All I need is for you and Grae to get out of here tonight.”
Tielle was more stunned than ever by then. “Des, I can’t just head off for some lover’s retreat just like that.” She snapped her fingers.
“Tielle.” Des shook her head. “Sweetie, if I know my nephew, he’ll soon get tired of pretending he cares about this family stuff and press for time with you, business be damned. My guess is Grae won’t offer any apologies for leaving you precious little time for anything other than him.” She reached for her tea, took a healthy sip and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Moments later, she left the office as coolly as she’d arrived.
* * *
Lunch was a surprisingly quiet affair held in the main dining room. Tielle had arranged to meet there with Laura to draft revised plans for the rest of the week.
“I’m sorry to leave you with all this on your plate so I can go traipsing off for romance.”
Laura gave her colleague a knowing look. “I’m surprised you guys waited this long. My guess is you could’ve used a trip like this months ago.”
“Humph, try a year.” Tielle scooted her chair closer to the table then. “You call me for anything. Anytime, you hear?”
Laura lifted her brows. “Anytime?”
“Stop.” Tielle rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “There’s a strong chance he’ll refuse my offer.”
Laura began to cut into her salad. “Girl, even I know your ex-husband better than that.”
“Yeah.” Tielle sighed out a laugh. “So do— I’ll be damned…” Her eyes narrowed in recognition when she saw Grae passing the dining room’s wide entryway with Leonard Cartright. “Let’s finish this later.” She tapped a finger to the table and set off to catch up with the men.
* * *
“I didn’t realize you were so close when we talked before,” Grae said as he and Leo walked the mural-lined corridor.
“Faro wants the deed by Friday.” Leo grimaced. “Figured I’d better get out of town ASAP before business called me back to the firm.”
“What’s his rush?”
“Guess we’ll know Friday.”
Grae muttered an expletive. “I want to get this over with, Leo.”
“I know, man, I know.” Leo clapped Grae’s shoulder. “Just don’t act too hasty on whatever you have in mind, all right? I know you’re at the end of your rope with Faro—”
“What’s he got on you?” Grae’s expression sharpened with suspicion. “I could see it before when I overheard Faro talking to Des, and I see it now on your face. What is it?”
Leo’s dark face seemed to tighten with curiosity. “What’d you hear?”
“Leo?”
The men turned to see Tielle approaching them. She beamed while holding out her arms toward Leo.
“What are you doing here?”
“Came to drop off some papers.” Leo enveloped Tielle in a bear hug and kissed her cheek. “Business stuff,” he added.
“Sorry for interrupting.” She glanced toward Grae.
Grae’s focus, however, had shifted from his uncle to settle on his ex. “No need to apologize. He’s not here to see me.”
“Ah…” Tielle smiled toward Leo again. “Well, I hope to see you before you go.” She stepped close for another hug and kiss from the man and then turned to Grae. “Can I talk to you?”
His bronze stare adopted a wolfish gleam. “Alone,” he stated. It was a subtle reminder of his earlier warning that she not find herself alone with him if she didn’t want to be detained.
“You two go on, Tielle.” Leo gave an affectionate squeeze to her wrist and then took advantage of the opportunity to escape further questions from Grae. “We’ll meet up later,” he said in passing.
Grae barely noticed the man’s departure. “Are we talking in my room or yours?”
She worked to ignore the suggestion in his voice. “My office.”
“Hmm…” The gesture held a growling effect. “Sounds like fun.”
